AFTER a win like this what's left to say? Especially against opposition as poor as Bulgaria were last night.
Yet you cannot help but ask whether Frank Lampard's time in the England team is up.
And what about his old West Ham team-mate Rio Ferdinand?
Lampard, a veteran of two World Cups and a European Championship, found himself on the bench last night while Ferdinand was omitted from the squad despite being an unused Manchester United sub last weekend.
It was the first time Lampard had been dropped since Steve McClaren left him out of the side that lost 2-1 to Russia in Moscow in October 2007.
Lampard, to be honest, could hardly complain.
He had an indifferent 2009-2010 after coming back from injury too early.
There then followed the shocker against Switzerland last time out at Wembley where he was hooked off at half-time after one of his poorest displays in an England shirt.
But he still wouldn't have been happy.
And it's hard at a time like this to talk about the end of the international road for a 33-year-old who has played 81 times for his country, scoring 22 goals. A man with the added responsibility of taking the penalties. Hardly one of our strengths.
And a man who has hurt as much as any during a time when the so-called Golden Generation lost its way.
Yet he was barely missed —
and this in a squad minus first-choices Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere. In fact, many will argue — as they have in the past — the team looked considerably better without him.
Quicker, more fluid, more energetic, more positive. In fact, there was greater vitality all round.
It was simple enough. Gareth Barry and Scott Parker holding, Stewart Downing in a free-ish role and Theo Walcott and Ashley Young outside the vibrant Wayne Rooney. And it looked good.
As for Ferdinand, a player who would have won far more than his 81 caps but for the sort of injury that prevented him skippering England in South Africa at what would have been his third World Cup, he will be 33 in November. And he could have hardly improved on Gary Cahill's performance. Solid, almost faultless at the back, the Bolton centre-half looked totally at ease. And at home.
He also showed his increasing eye for goal by taking time out to break into the Bulgarian penalty area and score England's opener after 13 minutes.
Strange then Phil Jagielka and Michael Dawson are normally preferred to him in the pecking order by those who profess to know these things.
Stranger still that Arsene Wenger chose not to take him to Arsenal.
So there we have it. A little conundrum for Fabio Capello to be getting on with. And one he will probably solve by continuing to omit Lampard while recalling Ferdinand. And he will probably be right. And what of last night? They, whoever 'they' may be, say there are no easy games.
Except they must have forgotten about San Marino — beaten 11-0 by Holland last night — Andorra and the Faroe Islands.
And Scotland, of course. And probably Bulgaria as well.
Thrashed 4-0 at Wembley, Lothar Matthaus' side were 2-0 down inside 21 minutes and it was all over bar the shouting. And most of that came from the 3,000 delighted England fans.
Though they will have been horrified by the new England kit — light blue shorts and navy shirts — that looked like nothing we have ever seen before (thankfully).
But as to what to make of it all, well, now that's a little more difficult.
In the qualifying process for South Africa, Capello's side won nine of their 10 matches and scored 34 goals.
By the time they had been thrashed 4-1 by Germany in Bloemfontein, they were a busted flush and exposed once more as the great pretenders.
So we won't be going too over the top after this. Though, after the draws with Montenegro and Switzerland, it does show England are far more comfortable outside Wembley than inside it.
Which is par for the course for a team that is better equipped at hitting a side on the break than taking the game to the opposition and imposing themselves on them.
Which generally means a team that is not quite in the top drawer. And probably not as good as a world ranking of fourth might suggest.
It's hard, though, to quibble after a result like this. It was easy but, then again, it always was going to be easy.
England may be capable of making a dog's dinner of most things but this would have been difficult to cock up.
How strange to come away with England, enjoy a trouble-free 90 minutes and not worry once. Something must be up.
Yet you cannot help but ask whether Frank Lampard's time in the England team is up.
And what about his old West Ham team-mate Rio Ferdinand?
Lampard, a veteran of two World Cups and a European Championship, found himself on the bench last night while Ferdinand was omitted from the squad despite being an unused Manchester United sub last weekend.
It was the first time Lampard had been dropped since Steve McClaren left him out of the side that lost 2-1 to Russia in Moscow in October 2007.Lampard, to be honest, could hardly complain.
He had an indifferent 2009-2010 after coming back from injury too early.
There then followed the shocker against Switzerland last time out at Wembley where he was hooked off at half-time after one of his poorest displays in an England shirt.
But he still wouldn't have been happy.
And it's hard at a time like this to talk about the end of the international road for a 33-year-old who has played 81 times for his country, scoring 22 goals. A man with the added responsibility of taking the penalties. Hardly one of our strengths.
And a man who has hurt as much as any during a time when the so-called Golden Generation lost its way.
Yet he was barely missed —
and this in a squad minus first-choices Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere. In fact, many will argue — as they have in the past — the team looked considerably better without him.
Quicker, more fluid, more energetic, more positive. In fact, there was greater vitality all round.
It was simple enough. Gareth Barry and Scott Parker holding, Stewart Downing in a free-ish role and Theo Walcott and Ashley Young outside the vibrant Wayne Rooney. And it looked good.
As for Ferdinand, a player who would have won far more than his 81 caps but for the sort of injury that prevented him skippering England in South Africa at what would have been his third World Cup, he will be 33 in November. And he could have hardly improved on Gary Cahill's performance. Solid, almost faultless at the back, the Bolton centre-half looked totally at ease. And at home.
He also showed his increasing eye for goal by taking time out to break into the Bulgarian penalty area and score England's opener after 13 minutes.
Strange then Phil Jagielka and Michael Dawson are normally preferred to him in the pecking order by those who profess to know these things.
Stranger still that Arsene Wenger chose not to take him to Arsenal.
So there we have it. A little conundrum for Fabio Capello to be getting on with. And one he will probably solve by continuing to omit Lampard while recalling Ferdinand. And he will probably be right. And what of last night? They, whoever 'they' may be, say there are no easy games.
Except they must have forgotten about San Marino — beaten 11-0 by Holland last night — Andorra and the Faroe Islands.
And Scotland, of course. And probably Bulgaria as well.
Thrashed 4-0 at Wembley, Lothar Matthaus' side were 2-0 down inside 21 minutes and it was all over bar the shouting. And most of that came from the 3,000 delighted England fans.
Though they will have been horrified by the new England kit — light blue shorts and navy shirts — that looked like nothing we have ever seen before (thankfully).
But as to what to make of it all, well, now that's a little more difficult.
In the qualifying process for South Africa, Capello's side won nine of their 10 matches and scored 34 goals.
By the time they had been thrashed 4-1 by Germany in Bloemfontein, they were a busted flush and exposed once more as the great pretenders.
So we won't be going too over the top after this. Though, after the draws with Montenegro and Switzerland, it does show England are far more comfortable outside Wembley than inside it.
Which is par for the course for a team that is better equipped at hitting a side on the break than taking the game to the opposition and imposing themselves on them.
Which generally means a team that is not quite in the top drawer. And probably not as good as a world ranking of fourth might suggest.
It's hard, though, to quibble after a result like this. It was easy but, then again, it always was going to be easy.
England may be capable of making a dog's dinner of most things but this would have been difficult to cock up.
How strange to come away with England, enjoy a trouble-free 90 minutes and not worry once. Something must be up.
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